Person specification
Job title: Senior Improvement Advisor (Registered Nurse)
Attributes
Experience
Essential
- Registered General Nurse with all round knowledge of the health and wellbeing of adults and older people in addition to specialist skills and knowledge in one of the following areas:
- tissue viability
- nutrition
- promoting continence
- palliative and end of life care
- frailty
- Be a senior practitioner/manager with the ability to lead and operate at a national level.
- Experience of successfully managing multi-disciplinary and multi-agency teams across health and social care.
- Be able to provide general health and wellbeing advice, guidance to all teams in across the Care Inspectorate including early learning and childcare and young people, and signpost where appropriate to specific support.
- Have current credibility in their field, be this as a practitioner or a nationally recognised role.
- Experience of working creatively with partners to develop ideas and solutions to deliver change and improvement in a range of areas.
- Experience of developing and delivering educational programmes in a variety of formats.
- Experience of leading quality improvement projects.
Desirable
- Research experience.
- Experience of evidence based policy development.
- Experience of working closely with a variety of national bodies.
Education, qualifications and training
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent in Nursing.
- Registered with the NMC.
- Hold a formal qualification in an aspect of improvement science such as Scottish Improvement Leader (ScIL) programme, ROCA/PDA, EFQM or willingness to work towards this or an equivalent quality improvement qualification.
- Commitment to own CPD.
Skills and knowledge
Essential
- Enhanced professional skills in a relevant discipline with the ability to apply this into the social care context.
- Expert knowledge of the social care sector and the interface with health.
- Understanding of the importance of the involvement of people experiencing care in the co-design and co-production of quality improvement initiatives.
- Ability to work autonomously in partnership and collaborate with key stakeholders including Scottish Government, HSCPs, LAs, Health Boards and service providers in the statutory, independent and voluntary sector.
- Excellent negotiating, facilitating, influencing and coaching skills.
- Understanding of quality improvement theory/change management and its practical application in health and social care settings.
- Ability to support implementation, spread and sustainability of specific improvements.
- Ability to develop and maintain extensive internal and external communication systems.
- Ability to respectfully challenge and influence at all levels.
- Excellent communicator with the ability to translate plans into actions.
- ICT skills and ability to use Care Inspectorate systems as required.
- Politically astute.
Desirable
- Ability to set up systems to monitor improvement, analyse data and develop quality improvement solutions.
Leading others
Essential
- Ability to provide leadership, a clear sense of purpose and direction to a professional team and meet the outcomes/improvements of the programme of work.
Management of resources
Essential
- Ability to bring together the overall work of a team of staff, including staff and budget responsibilities.
- Ability to manage resources and budgets in achievement of the Care Inspectorate.
- Ability to drive continuous quality improvement and manage planning and performance processes.
Effective communication
Essential
- Articulate and positive communicator both in verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to engage, influence and lead the development of a wide range of key stakeholder relationships, both internally and externally.
- The ability to build and guide key stakeholder strategies and manage relationships to secure delivery of the programme and sustain improvements.
Impact and influence
Essential
- Demonstrates ability to influence at all levels.
- Ability to promote, lead and implement strategies and change programmes to improve the development and quality of services and reduce health and social inequalities.
- Evidence of building positive relationships, engaging and collaborating effectively with others internally and externally and at all levels.
- Demonstrates personal resilience, being able to work flexibly under pressure with stamina and tenacity to deliver results.
Desirable
- Ability to take account of wider political and organisational sensitivities to deliver strategic objectives.
Objective decision making
Essential
- The ability to assist senior/executive management to set, in consultation with others, the overall strategic agenda objectives and performance standards for the programme.
- Demonstrates analytical and systematic approach to problem solving.
- Ability to make appropriate and realistic judgments, based on relevant, up to date and verifiable information.
- The ability to take responsibility for difficult decisions and to remain resilient against possible criticism.
Please note these are key performance outcomes to be used to recruit into the role.
Person specification
Job title: Personal Assistant
Attributes
Experience
Essential
- Extensive secretarial/office experience.
- Experience of interpreting the business conducted at meetings and producing accurate minutes to reflect discussion and decision.
- Experience of providing administrative support at senior level.
- Experience of preparing basic reports for submission to senior members of staff.
Desirable
- Ability to develop and produce correspondence and emails on behalf of the Director.
Education, qualifications and training
Essential
- Educated to SCQF level 5 (i.e. standard grade or equivalent).
Desirable
- Hold a relevant qualification in administration, and/or secretarial studies at SCQF Level 7 or above (e.g. HNC/D or equivalent.)
Skills and knowledge
Essential
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills
- Excellent organisational, planning and decision making skills.
- Ability to manage conflicting priorities and work to tight deadlines/plan and prioritise workloads.
- Experience of developing processes and procedures
- Good working knowledge of IT packages including Microsoft Applications and database input.
- Ability to translate plans into action
Key performance outcomes
Effective communication
Essential
- Ability to prepare written communication to a high standard.
- Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely and to adapt communication to suit different audiences.
- Ability to form constructive working relationships with people at all levels in the organisation.
- Regularly communicates with and ensures they are accessible to colleagues and key contacts.
- Ability to communicate decisions to colleaguesand key contacts.
Objective decision making
Essential
- Demonstrates ananalytical and systematic approach to problem solving.
- Encourages and supports decisions of colleagues and key contacts.
- Considers Care Inspectorate values in relation to the impact of their decisions.
- Considers the wider contextin which the Care Inspectorate operates.
Desirable
- Ability to express and present complex information.
Planning and organising
Essential
- Ability to react to changing priorities and manage conflicting demands.
- Ability to forward plan and prevent any operational difficulties.
- Uses a systematic approach to make efficientuse of time and manage workload.
- Recognises the need to be flexible in order to meet changing priorities.
- Follows directions and procedures.
Flexibility
Essential
- Demonstrates a flexible, positive approach to work.
- Listens to feedback and ideas from people and will take appropriate and considered action.
- Adapts well to change, adjusting priorities as required.
- Ability to apply skills flexibly as required.
Personal accountability and responsibility
Essential
- Contributes to the development of operational processes and systems.
- Demonstrate initiative, drive and determination to complete tasks and achieve objectives.
- Improve the development and quality of services.
- Takes responsibility for decisions and actions taken.
- Maintains a high standard of work and actively seeks out continuous improvement.
- Demonstrates initiative within own area of expertise.
- Takes responsibility for identifying and addressing areas of personal and professional development.
Please note – these are key performance outcomes to be used to recruit into the role.
Person specification
Job title: Information Governance Lead
Attributes
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrate a successful track record within a similar role.
- Experience of developing, implementing and maintaining information governance tools and standards, for example, business and security classifications, metadata schemes, life-cycle retention schedules and information asset registers
- Experience of writing policies, procedures and guidance
- Experience of working with and influencing stakeholders and partners
- Experience of undertaking information and process surveys, current state assessments and compliance audits
- Developing and/or delivering training programmes
- Experience of designing, developing and maintaining information management systems
- Line management experience
- Experience of working with the ICO and other regulatory bodies
Desirable
- Experience of working within the social care sector
- Experience of working with IT and business colleagues to integrate IG into technology platforms and business systems
Education, qualifications and training
Essential
Educated to degree level unless has proven experience in senior information governance role in a similar public body
Desirable
- Graduate or post graduate degree, or other qualification in IG-related discipline e.g. Records Management, Data Protection, Freedom of
- Information, Information Security and Assurance
- Legal qualification
Skills and knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge and understanding of the relevant legislation in the context within which the Care Inspectorate works e.g. UK GDPR, DPA 2018
- The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, Public services reform (Scotland) Act 2010, Public Records (Scotland) Act 2011 and associated legislation.
- Knowledge and understanding of the importance of confidentiality and information governance and security principles
- Ability to interpret and present information governance concepts and terminology legal information in lay terms
- Excellent all-round IT skills, including familiarity with the Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Explorer) and Adobe Writer.
- Proven analytical and problem solving skills
Desirable
Good working knowledge of project planning and process tools such as MS Project, Visio, and data analysis and productivity tools such as DROID and TreeSize
Key performance outcomes
Effective commmunication
Essential
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to explain specialist/complex issues to non-specialist staff at a variety of levels and to draft clear and concise written reports.
- The ability to foster good working relationships with a range of colleagues, providing expert or professional advice, both internally and externally.
- Portrays a positive image of the Care Inspectorate when communicating both inside the organisation and externally.
- Selects appropriate communication, style and methods depending on the needs and abilities of the audience.
- Listens actively to people, questions and checks understanding.
- Possesses and displays self-confidence, enthusiasm, motivation, tact and diplomacy when communicating both inside the organisation and externally.
- Focus on representing the work area or function with the main emphasis on advising, guiding, and persuasion; to be instrumental in resolving tensions and difficulties.
- Senior representative in their area of expertise with external contacts.
Planning and organising
Essential
- Uses a systematic approach to make efficient use of time and manage workload.
- Recognises the need to be flexible in order to meet changing priorities.
- Prioritises work effectively to meet deadlines and objectives.
- Ability to multi-task, deal with work within tight/conflicting deadlines and prioritise work appropriately.
- Excellent planning and project management skills and ability to deliver work to specified timescales.
- Responsible for a discrete area of the Care Inspectorate’s work, policy, functional or operational area of activity and for managing projects and associated resources.
- People management responsibilities in terms of planning, leading, organising and controlling the work of others.
- Plan, having an impact across the organisation or affecting the sector, externally.
Flexibility
Essential
- Demonstrates a flexible, positive approach to work and in all duties performed.
- Listens to feedback and ideas from people and will take appropriate and considered action.
- Adapts well to change, adjusting priorities as required.
- Understands where a flexible approach is required.
- Adopting creative approaches and flexibility in the use of judgement which will be influenced by a number of variables requiring significant levels of discretion.
Team working
Essential
- Remains tolerant and fair towards others, values diversity and is nondiscriminatory in their actions.
- Values and makes use of the skills, knowledge and experience of others.
- Works co-operatively and supportively with others.
- Will develop ideas and contribute directly to parts of the Corporate Plan, having an impact across the organisation or affecting the sector, externally.
Personal accountability and responsibility
Essential
- Ability to work on own initiative and exercise own judgment with discretion.
- Takes responsibility for decisions and actions taken keeping line management informed of developments or issues as they arise.
- Maintains a high standard of work and actively seeks out continuous improvement.
- Demonstrates initiative within own area of expertise with limited line management experience.
- Takes responsibility for identifying and addressing areas of personal and professional development.
- To work independently on particular aspects of projects, reporting progress and liaising as necessary.
- Provide information which typically influence decision makers and will take the lead on organisation wide projects reporting directly to a member of the ET.
Please note – these are key performance outcomes to be used to recruit into the role. Successful applicants will be assessed against all the performance indicators used in the Performance Development Review System once established in the role.
Job profile
Job title: Applications Manager
Responsible to: Head of IT Service Delivery
Principal working contacts
Director of IT & Digital Transformation Head of IT Service Delivery
IT Service Operations Manager
IT Customer Service & Transition Manager
IT Service Operations Team
Other key IT Teams and contacts (Security & Compliance Team, Development Team, and Project Managers)
Job purpose
The Applications Manager will lead and manage a development team, responsible for the delivery of technical solutions, in support of IT services and Digital Transformation at the Care Inspectorate.
The Applications Manager is an operational management role leading a team to deliver the planning, software development, integrations, implementation, release and on-going support of business applications, with a support model that ensures the delivery of service standards to agreed service levels and leading the development of digital standards through continual service improvement.
Key responsibilities
- Lead the team responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining all business applications at the Care Inspectorate, overseeing analysis, planning, testing, and documentation.
- Lead a team ensuring the continuity, integrity and availability of all business apps.
- Manage the ongoing monitoring and maintenance of digital apps usage.
- Coordinate knowledge management processes to support the sharing of relevant app service information effectively.
- Assist the Enterprise Architect in developing system architectures aligned with design principles.
- Collaborate with the IT Customer Service and Operations Managers to ensure smooth release, transition, and management of digital apps.
- Partner with the IT Service Operations Manager to efficiently manage infrastructure and utility costs related to digital apps delivery.
- Work with Customer Service Manager to integrate app support service with the wider Service Desk team.
- Support procurement activities necessary for maintaining continuity and development of business applications.
- Support project delivery, resource management, and environment management processes as part of the IT management team, while ensuring regular reporting on achievements and plans.
- Deputise for the Head of IT Service Delivery as necessary.
Relationship management
- Support the Head of IT Service Delivery to maintain healthy and effective relationships with senior stakeholders, business service owners and staff at all levels, to ensure a positive, collaborative working environment.
- Maintain an effective app support and development team ensuring that performance management, professional development and employee engagement are key areas of focus.
- Maintain and develop a healthy team dynamic, encouraging skills and knowledge sharing, ensuring a consistency of standards and service
- Promote the principles of partnership working throughout the organisation and in all working practices in accordance with the Care Inspectorate's Partnership Agreement.
- Be proactive in raising public awareness in the work of the Care Inspectorate.
- Demonstrate a commitment to the Care Inspectorate’s aims, vision and values and to the Care Inspectorate’s overall objective of improving care in Scotland.
People management
- Lead and manage a team, ensuring that they work effectively to meet the aims, objectives and targets of Care Inspectorate.
- Provide advice, guidance and support to team members through regular one-to-one supervision, performance development reviews and personal development plans to ensure continuous improvement in their work, supporting their personal and professional development.
- Coordinate and monitor administrative support to the team
- Promote consistent, high-quality practice amongst team members, manage their performance and monitor their standards and behaviour.
- Promote the health, safety and welfare of staff in accordance with Care Inspectorate policies, procedures and guidance.
- Promote diversity and equality of opportunity, ensuring that these principles are upheld across all areas of work.
Other duties
This job description is a broad picture of the post at the date of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time. Consequently, the post holder will be required to carry out any other duties to the equivalent level that are necessary to fulfil the purpose of the job, and to respond positively to changing business needs.
Person specification
Job title: Planning Coordintor
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Desireable
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Experience
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Experience of collaborative/ partnership working.
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Education, qualifications and training |
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Skills and knowledge |
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Understanding of project management.
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Key performance outcomes |
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Planning and organising |
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Management of resources |
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Impact and influence |
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Ability to take account of wider political and organisational sensitivities to deliver strategic objectives. |
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Objective decision making |
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Effective communication |
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Please note – these are key performance outcomes to be used to recruit into the role. Successful applicants will be assessed against all the performance indicators used in the Performance Development Review System once established in the role.
Job profile
Job title: Information Governance Lead
Responsible to: Head of Intelligence
Principal working contacts
Internal
- Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO)
- Deputy SIRO
- Executive Directors and senior managers
- Information Asset Owners and Administrators
- Internal subject matter experts in related disciplines
- Head of IT Service Delivery, Organisation and Workforce Development, Legal
- Services and Customer Services
- Information Governance Team
- Managers and employees of the Care Inspectorate
External
- UK Information Commissioner
- Scottish Information Commissioner (SIC)
- National Records of Scotland
- Care Inspectorate strategic partners
- Care service providers and people experiencing care
- Members of the public
Job purpose
The post holder will provide the Care Inspectorate with leadership in information governance and assurance, internally & externally. They will be the prime source of expert advice and policy development, to create and maintain high level awareness, profile and understanding of the strategic and operational importance of information governance. They will also assure the Care Inspectorate that it is meeting its statutory and legal obligations and be capable of acting as Data Protection Officer as defined under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018 and Data Protection Act 2018.
The post holder will lead on delivering information governance support across the Care Inspectorate, supported by the Deputy SIRO and the Information Governance team, and will bear responsibility for performance and/or service delivery. The post holder will be responsible for managing their own and their team’s workload ensuring that work is completed to the required high standard in a timely fashion. The post holder must possess highly developed specialist knowledge, underpinned by theory and experience.
Key responsibilities/accountabilities
Operational management
- Develop and implement corporate strategy, policies and procedures to support IG and effective use of information, in line with business and legal requirements and ensure that they are kept up to date and in line with changes to the Care Inspectorate’s internal and external operating environment.
- Coordinate the identification, assessment, reporting and management of risk in relation to all aspects of information governance (IG) within the Care Inspectorate, including regular review of the Information Risk Register and reporting to the Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) and Senior Management Team.
- Monitor and report on compliance and performance as required by Care Inspectorate governance arrangements and lead on creating and implementing improvement plans.
- Be capable of acting as Data Protection Officer for the Care Inspectorate and acting as key contact with the supervisory authority and leading on preparations for and on-going compliance with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation and revised UK Data Protection Act.
- Support the proportionate, lawful and secure use and sharing of personal data, implementing, monitoring, auditing and reviewing the Data Processing Contracts, Information Sharing Protocols, Privacy notices, Data Protection Impact Assessments and Compliance Checks.
- Develop, oversee and monitor IG training for staff, implement clear and robust information and data handling standards and procedures, raise awareness of IG responsibilities, and promote awareness and best practice.
- Coordinate and manage the organisation’s response to information security vulnerabilities and incidents.
- Coordinate and manage responses to all statutory requests for information received by the organisation, including Subject Access Requests and Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act requests.
- Develop and maintain corporate information governance tools and standards, for example, business and security classifications, metadata schemes, lifecycle retention schedules and information asset registers and ensure local implementation and compliance.
- Manage delivery of the Care Inspectorate’s Records Management.
- Improvement Plan and act as the statutory contact for Records Management, as required under the Public Records (Scotland) Act 2011.
- Support improvement of current record creation and record keeping standards to ensure that the Care Inspectorate is holding adequate records of business activity and decision making to meet statutory and legal requirements and as evidence of its accountability and transparency.
- Ensure that information governance requirements are integrated into business processes, standard operating procedures and organisational change.
- Advance the “digital by default” agenda and exploit opportunities to automate information governance through technology solutions and tools electronic record-keeping within Care Inspectorate systems.
- Observe the provisions of and adhere to all Care Inspectorate policies and procedures.
- Carry out your duties in accordance with our Health and Safety policies, procedures, guidance, practices and legislative requirements, taking reasonable care for your safety and that of others who may be affected by what you do or fail to do while at work.
Relationship management
- Demonstrate a commitment to Care Inspectorate’s aims, vision, values and overall objective of improving care in Scotland.
- Prepare and deliver briefings, reports and presentations on IG to colleagues within and outside the Care Inspectorate in a manner that is informative, contextual and easily understood.
- Provide advice and guidance to staff on IG issues, including statutory and regulatory compliance.
- Act as a subject matter expert and staff mentor on all aspects of information governance.
- Liaise with and build professional working relationships with partner organisations on IG matters.
- Monitor individual and service performance.
- Line manage and motivates staff.
- Conduct staff appraisals.
- Ensuring that the team deliver the information governance service to the required high standard.
Other duties
This job description is a broad picture of the post at the date of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time. Consequently, the post holder will be required to carry out any other duties to the equivalent level that are necessary to fulfil the purpose of the job, and to respond positively to changing business needs.
Job profile
Job Title: Communications Co-ordinator (Safe staffing programme)
Responsible to: Communications Manager
Principal working contacts
- Communications Manager
- Communications colleagues
- Head of Corporate Policy and Communications
- Chief Nurse
- Safe staffing programme lead and team
- Managers and employees of the Care Inspectorate
- External suppliers and agencies
Job purpose
To provide communications advice and deliver communications activity to support the promotion and understanding of the safe staffing programme. Communications activity to support other projects will also be required.
Key responsibilities
- Help create and deliver a communications plan for the safe staffing programme, which aligns with the communications strategy.
- Work with the safe staffing programme team to promote its work and engage with the sector on this important area of legislation.
- Deliver a broad mix of high-quality communications solutions to tight and demanding schedules.
- Support production and promotion of the organisation’s information and promotional collateral, primarily for the safe staffing programme and for other projects as required.
- Represent external communications on project groups, taking responsibility to provide dedicated advice and support.
- Write copy in clear conversational style, following the Care Inspectorate corporate style, for a wide range of content and material, primarily for the safe staffing programme and for other projects as required.
- Edit and proof copy written by others to ensure clarity and consistency.
Relationship management
- Develop supportive and productive working relationships with colleagues.
- Ensure effective working in accordance with Care Inspectorate protocols.
- Liaise and work collaboratively with professionals and external bodies to promote the work of the Care Inspectorate and share good practice.
- Represent the Care Inspectorate as required at meetings and events.
- Ensure effective communication of the Care Inspectorate’s work with people who use care services, carers, relatives and advocates, primarily for the safe staffing programme and for other projects as required.
- Commit to the Care Inspectorate’s aims, vision and values to put people at the heart of our overall objective to improve care in Scotland.
Other duties
This job may require some travel, overnight stays and unsocial hours. This job description is a broad picture of the post at the date of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list and jobs can change and evolve over time. The post holder will be required to carry out any other duties to the equivalent level that are necessary to fulfil the purpose of the job, and to respond positively to changing business needs.
Job profile
Job title: Inspection Planning Manager - Workforce Planning and Data
Responsible for: Planning Co-ordinator
Principal Working Contacts
- Executive Director of Scrutiny and Assurance
- Chief Inspectors
- Service Managers
- Team Managers
- Strategic Inspectors
- Inspectors
- Business Support staff
- Managers and employees of the Care Inspectorate
- External agencies/service providers/service users and carers
- Education Scotland
Job purpose
To manage and co-ordinate the delivery of national inspection planning across a wide range of social care services and services for children and adults to ensure that the Care Inspectorate makes the best use of its resources and performs effectively and efficiently as an independent scrutiny and improvement body.
Key responsibilities
Strategic management
- In conjunction with key stakeholders, develop and manage systems and processes to support effective national inspection planning in order to meet corporate aims and objectives.
- Build and maintain effective partnerships with Education Scotland, Healthcare Improvement Scotland and other scrutiny and improvement partners to support effective and efficient joint inspection planning.
- In conjunction with key stakeholders develop and deliver strategies, action plans and targets for inspection planning in support of corporate aims and objectives.
Operational management
- Manage and co-ordinate the effective and efficient delivery of scrutiny and improvement planning activity.
- Manage and maintain scrutiny plans for the current year and draft plans for subsequent years, ensuring inspection planning activities are consistent with the Care Inspectorate’s objectives and targets.
- Ensure that the provision of the inspection and capacity planning information is accurate, up-to-date and reliable for managers and staff throughout the organisation to support the planning and delivery of the Care Inspectorate’s scrutiny and improvement functions.
- Plan and execute the strategic objectives for inspection planning systematically in alignment with the Care Inspectorate’s business objectives.
- Promote continuous improvement in all aspects of inspection and capacity planning, including quality assurance and consistency of practice.
- Participate in the recruitment and selection of staff as required.
- Prepare and present reports to the Chief Inspectors and Executive Director of Scrutiny and Assurance or Executive Team as required.
- Deputise for senior managers and undertake such other duties as may be required.
People management
- Lead and manage a team, ensuring that they work effectively and efficiently to meet the aims, objectives and targets of Care Inspectorate.
- Provide advice, guidance and support to team members through regular one-to-one supervision, performance development reviews and personal development plans to ensure continuous improvement in their work and support their personal and professional development.
- Coordinate and monitor administrative support to the team
- Promote consistent, high quality practice amongst team members, manage their performance and monitor their standards and behaviour.
- Promote the health, safety and welfare of staff in accordance with Care Inspectorate policies, procedures and guidance.
- Promote diversity and equality of opportunity, ensuring that these principles are upheld across all areas of work.
Relationship management
- As a manager, model corporate behaviour and demonstrate a strong commitment to organisational values.
- Develop effective working relationships within the team and with managers and staff across the organisation ensuring effective collaborative and cross-directorate working.
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with partner scrutiny and improvement bodies and other key stakeholders.
- Contribute to the continuous development of the Care Inspectorate and manage change effectively and creatively.
- Promote the work of the Care Inspectorate and raise aware of its work in a positive manner.
- Ensure effective working protocols in accordance with the Care Inspectorate’s Communications, Human Resources, Finance, IT and Operations function.
- Demonstrate a commitment to the Care Inspectorate’s aims, vision and values and to the Care Inspectorate’s overall objective of improving care in Scotland.
- Ensure effective communication of the Care Inspectorate’s work with people who use care services, carers, relatives and advocates.
Other duties
This job may require some travel and may involve some overnight stays and unsocial hours.
This job description is a broad picture of the post at the date of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time. Consequently, the post holder will be required to carry out any other duties to the equivalent level that are necessary to fulfil the purpose of the job, and to respond positively to changing business needs.
Subcategories
Inspector - Early Learning and Childcare (ELC)
The early learning and childcare expansion…
Role: Inspector - Early Learning and Childcare (ELC)
Location: Forth Valley, Borders, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, Edinburgh & Glasgow
Salary: £31,083 - £39,069 plus excellent benefits
Hours: 140 hours to be worked over a 4-week period
Contract: Permanent or 2-year secondment (would be considered)
Join us and make a difference – for you, for everyone
It’s our job to ensure care for everyone, everywhere in Scotland is as good as it can be. If you are as passionate about high-quality care as we are, and you’re experienced in your field, we’d love to hear from you.
About us
As a national scrutiny body that supports improvement. We inspect care services and partnerships across Scotland, report on the quality of care people experience, and support improvements in services to facilitate improvements in outcomes for people.
We inspect care services individually. We also work with other scrutiny bodies to inspect the social care and social work services people are experiencing in local areas.
We champion high-quality care whenever we encounter it across the thousands of inspections, we carry out each year, and we work closely with all care providers to support them to improve all the time. We collaborate with other organisations too, supporting improvement across public services. Our work plays a big role in reducing health and social inequalities between people and communities.
We are looking for talented people to join us in making a difference - specialists who understand how to put people’s needs, rights and choices at the heart of delivering social services – and how to lead improvement too. Our 600 staff work with services across the public, voluntary and private sectors. We have offices across Scotland and many of our staff work from home.
About you
Whether early or established in your career, you will share our determination that care, social work and justice services should work well for people – every time. You’ll be confident about what good-quality care looks like and how to deliver it. You’ll be good at analysing information and evidence. You will have excellent writing skills for narrative inspection reports that are clear, concise and focused on outcomes. You will be confident in working with a wide range of people and at supporting and advising on improvement.
You’ll currently be working, or have significant experience in, social care, social work, health, children’s services, early learning, child protection, or community learning and development. You will be registered or eligible to register with a professional body like the SSSC, NMC or GTC.
About the role
Our care inspectors work with care services: childminders, nurseries, care homes, care at home, housing support and a host of other specialist services. A specialist in your field, you may have helped lead a service and have a strong track record in delivering quality. You’ll be adept at leading improvement and influencing others. You will work with people experiencing care, and care service providers, managers and staff.
Why join us?
We strive to be a great employer, knowing that competitive salary, leave and pension schemes are only part of that. We pride ourselves on the values we hold, person-centred; fairness; respect; efficiency and integrity - all supported with a culture of care and kindness.
We believe in collective leadership and innovation. You’ll have a lot of autonomy to manage your own work and use the professional skills you’ve honed during your career – but in new ways. Starting on day one, our learning and development support will help you become confident in the craft of scrutiny and in supporting improvement. Because a lot of your role is about sharing effective practice across Scotland, the impact you can have on experiences and outcomes for people is significant. You will draw on management and leadership skills you’ve developed in the past.
We’re proud to be a progressive, supportive employer – we’re happy to talk about flexible working with you and we’re members of the Disability Confident Scheme, aiming to make the most of the talents disabled people can bring to the workplace.
New appointments will normally be placed on the minimum grade for the role; a higher starting salary may be offered in exceptional circumstances only.
ELC expansion
The Scottish Government is committed to expanding the provision of funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) from 600 hours to 1140 hours per year by 2020. The expansion of ELC is aimed to support the reduction in the poverty-related attainment gap and improve long term outcomes for children and families.
Due to the ELC expansion programme we are looking for 7 further ELC Inspectors in addition to the “business as usual” Inspector campaign launched recently.
Principles and aims
The priority for the expansion to 1140 hours is to improve children's outcomes and close the poverty-related attainment gap. In addition, the expansion aims to support parents into work, study or training. The Scottish Government's four principles of the ELC expansion are: quality, flexibility, affordability, and accessibility.
The Scottish Government has stated that quality is 'at the heart' of the expansion and that achieving a high-quality ELC experience for children is a key objective.
Use and provision
A 2018 survey found that the main reason why parents use funded ELC is that they consider it beneficial for their child's learning and development. In addition, parents reported using the funded hours to either work, increase the number of hours they work, or look for work.
Funded ELC in Scotland is delivered by a wide range of providers including nurseries, crèches and playgroups, from across the public, private and third sectors. A small number of childminders also deliver funded ELC, but the Scottish Government hopes this number will increase under the expansion to 1140 hours.
Criteria to apply
- We require you to hold a relevant qualification (minimum SCQF Level 9), register with either the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) or any other relevant professional body and undertake PVG checks.
- You must also be prepared to do a Professional Development Award in Scrutiny and Improvement (Social Services) at SCQF level 10 with appropriate support from the organisation.
- You will have a minimum of three years recent and demonstrable management experience in a relevant field. You must also be willing to travel with overnight stays as required.
Before you apply
- Please contact the relevant body directly to resolve any queries you have regarding registration or eligible qualifications for registration (SSSC, NMC and so on) before submitting your application.
- For an informal chat about the job role, please contact (Who?) You or Kim Connolly, Team Manager on 07766133161
- For all other queries, please contact Human Resources at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
To apply
- If you are interested, please see the minimum criteria to apply as an Inspector and the specific guidance and directions to apply. Thereafter, click on the gateway questions link to apply.
- Your completed application form (campaign number C39 only forms) and equal opportunities form should be returned to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.no later than Monday, 14 October 2019 at 8.00am.
- We anticipate that selection days will take place in the week commencing Monday, 18 November 2019.